Join the Sharon Historical Society for a unique, behind-the-scenes walking tour of several historic mansions on the East Hill. This will be an “explore at your own pace” event where attendees can enjoy the history of these grand old homes and their promising futures. Truly a photographer’s dream, this Open House event will be a rare opportunity for the community to step inside these historic homes.

Stops will include the Wallis mansion (290 East State Street), the McDowell mansion (264 East State Street), the Whitla mansion (381 East State Street), the Willson mansion (555 East State Street), and more. A special souvenir handout detailing the tour stops and other interesting facts about the East Hill will be provided to participants. The Sharon Historical Society will also have memberships, publications, and additional merchandise available for purchase.

The self-guided tour will involve walking on a steep grade and/or rolling, uneven terrain. Be aware that participants will be on their feet for the entire event. Please wear appropriate shoes and attire for the weather. These tours require a $10 donation at the door. No reservations or tickets are required, however, we are offering pre-sale tickets to help with crowd control. You can purchase them HERE. Additional donations are much appreciated.

Event registration will be at the Wallis mansion, the new home of the Sharon Historical Society, at 290 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 1:00 pm and will run until 4:00 pm.

Parking can be found in the lot at the Stevenson Funeral Home, the F. H. Buhl Club, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Daffin’s Candies, and other public parking lots and spots nearby.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in collaboration with The Block by Nova Destinations, as we host “Beware the Black Hand! Early Organized Crime in Ohio and Pennsylvania: True Crime & Cocktails,” a unique, lecture with an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverage included. Author Sean Posey explores the history of the dreaded Black Hand criminal society, which terrorized Italian immigrants during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys.

Organized crime is a hot topic for many in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys. There are stories about the hold that the mafia had on the area during the 1900s, but the idea of organized crime started long before that. Many immigrants to the United States in the 1800s were threatened by a very dark, and terrifying secret group known as “the Black Hand” that extorted people for money. People would often receive a threatening letter with a black hand imprinted on it, some were kidnapped, others would lose their home or business to arson, and many were murdered at the hands of this group.

We will explore the beginnings of organized crime, and trace the evolution of the dreaded Black Hand secret society and its reign of terror in Ohio and Pennsylvania during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

This lecture is provided by author Sean T. Posey, freelance writer and historian. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Photojournalism from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and a Master’s degree in History from Youngstown State University. His work has been featured in a variety of publications, including Citylab, Salon and Bill Moyers and Company, as well as in the books “Car Bombs to Cookie Tables: The Youngstown Anthology” and the “Pittsburgh Anthology.” The History Press released Sean’s first two books: “Lost Youngstown” and “Historic Theaters of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.” His most recent book, “Hidden History of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley,” hit shelves in 2022.

This event requires tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person and include an alcoholic or two non-alcoholic beverages.

The event will be at The Block by Nova Destinations second-floor, 23 Chestnut Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in collaboration with the Warren Historical Players and Croaker’s Brewing Company, as we host “Death in the Perkins Family: Beer & Bloodshed,” a unique, lecture with an alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage included. Former professor Dr. Ronald Brooks and local physician Dr. Gregory George will give the story behind the story of the Perkins family, who founded Akron, Ohio, and had members in both Warren, Ohio, and Sharon, Pa. Many members of the family suffered from melancholia, which we know today as severe depression. Because of this melancholia, two members of the family would commit suicide. Henry Bishop Perkins Jr. shot himself on the banks of the Mahoning River behind the Kinsman House in 1900. His father, Henry Bishop Perkins Sr. would never recover from his son’s death and less than a year later in 1901, he would hang himself from the rafters in his office. One of the rumors about Bish Perkins is that he impregnated a local maid, who then died under suspicious circumstances. Newspapers said she was in “an unfortunate condition” at the time of her death.

This lecture is provided by Dr. Ronald Brooks who has appeared in many historical reenactments in the Western Reserve of Northeast Ohio. You may have seen him in one of his reenactments of General Simon Perkins or David Tod, Ohio’s Civil War Governor. Perhaps you have seen him as a Victorian Gentleman in his presentation of Victorian Spiritualism, to name just a few. Dr. Brooks is proud to be a member of the Warren Historical Players. He has brought to his presentations and other performances an in-depth knowledge of the Victorian Era, Spiritualism, and the history of the Ohio Western Reserve. Dr. Brooks is recognized as an authority in all things Victorian and local history. Two of his recent books are In the Shadow of the Spire, Historical Profiles of Warren Ohio, and A Journey into the Spirit World. His Ph.D. is in education, and he is a tenured full professor. He holds a Master’s Degree in mathematics and a Bachelor’s Degree in education and history. He has won numerous awards for his teaching ability. Dr. Gregory George is a local physician. He volunteered for the Trumbull County Historical Society portraying Henry Bishop Perkins and Judge Frederick Kinsman in character and costume. He is enthusiastic about being part of Warren Historical Players. He portrayed several local iconic leaders, including Dr. Peter Allen, W.D. Packard, and Clearance Darrow. He portrayed Charles Dickens during the Players’ Christmas event. Dr. George played the role of Dr. Ephraim King in the PBS Documentary Engineering Tragedy: The Ashtabula Train Disaster, produced and directed by Len Brown of Beacon Productions. John A. Libonati has served as Mercer County Coroner for nine years. For the past 16 years, Mr. Libonati has been a certified death investigator through the Pennsylvania State Coroners’ Education Board and has worked for the Mercer County Coroner’s Office where he has performed over 3,000 death investigations.

This event requires tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person and include an alcoholic or two non-alcoholic beverages.

The event will be at the Taproom of Croaker's Brewing Company, 74 North Sharpsville Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146 on Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 2:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society as we celebrate the release of our newest book, “The Magic City: The Mills, Men, & Homes of a Company Town Forged in Steel,” with a special lecture. In this lecture, we’ll explore the city of Farrell’s past with this in-depth look at the development of South Sharon as a company town, the birth of the steel industry, the men responsible for its success, and the grand mansions of steel barons and modest homes of millworkers during this transformational era. This event will celebrate the release of our newest book which is a full-color book with over 200 pages of in-depth research paired with historic and current photography.

Skeptics watched and waited during the first years of the 20th century for the decline and sudden death of the little “boomtown” of South Sharon, now the city of Farrell, Pennsylvania. So quickly had it appeared amid the Shenango Valley’s established communities of Sharon and Sharpsville that many called the new steel-making settlement “The Magic City” and fully expected it to disappear with equal rapidity. Overcrowded boarding houses, the influx of immigrant laborers for the steel mills, and the ensuing building boom all led to speculation that although a bonanza had been struck, it would be of only temporary importance to the Valley. They underestimated the strength of steel and of the men who made it. But not all that glitters is gold. With the influx of immigrant workers, a rise in crime through the Italian Black Hand Society gave South Sharon the notoriety of being the Society’s headquarters. In 1919, the Great Steel Strike due to unfair wages erupted in the region, chaos and rioting left four dead. Uncover the rich history of one of the region’s largest employers, the Sharon Steel Corporation, the men responsible for its success, and the homes of steel kings and average workers who all played a critical role in the development of South Sharon into an important steel town in Western Pennsylvania.

This lecture is provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society. Galaska has been on the Board of Directors since 2014 when he joined at the age of 15. He has dedicated the last several years to researching the histories of hundreds of residences throughout the city of Sharon and the surrounding region of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. He became well-known for his social media postings featuring the histories of local homes during and after the pandemic. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.

The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in collaboration with the Warren Historical Players and Croaker’s Brewing Company, as we host “Love at First Bite: Vampires & Craft Beer!,” a unique, lecture with an alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage included. Former professor Dr. Ronald Brooks and local physician Dr. Gregory George will give the story behind the story of vampires through myths, superstitions, legends, and reality with authoritative historical research. Learn details on the medical condition that spurred superstition and folklore. Hear how literature and cinema then spread the legend from the 1800’s to the present. It will be a unique Valentine’s Day-themed event.

This lecture is provided by Dr. Ronald Brooks who has appeared in many historical reenactments in the Western Reserve of Northeast Ohio. You may have seen him in one of his reenactments of General Simon Perkins or David Tod, Ohio’s Civil War Governor. Perhaps you have seen him as a Victorian Gentleman in his presentation of Victorian Spiritualism, to name just a few. Dr. Brooks is proud to be a member of the Warren Historical Players. He has brought to his presentations and other performances an in-depth knowledge of the Victorian Era, Spiritualism, and the history of the Ohio Western Reserve. Dr. Brooks is recognized as an authority in all things Victorian and local history. Two of his recent books are In the Shadow of the Spire, Historical Profiles of Warren Ohio, and A Journey into the Spirit World. His Ph.D. is in education, and he is a tenured full professor. He holds a Master’s Degree in mathematics and a Bachelor’s Degree in education and history. He has won numerous awards for his teaching ability. Dr. Gregory George is a local physician. He volunteered for the Trumbull County Historical Society portraying Henry Bishop Perkins and Judge Frederick Kinsman in character and costume. He is enthusiastic about being part of Warren Historical Players. He portrayed several local iconic leaders, including Dr. Peter Allen, W.D. Packard, and Clearance Darrow. He portrayed Charles Dickens during the Players’ Christmas event. Dr. George played the role of Dr. Ephraim King in the PBS Documentary Engineering Tragedy: The Ashtabula Train Disaster, produced and directed by Len Brown of Beacon Productions.

This event requires tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person and include an alcoholic or two non-alcoholic beverages. Some “standing-room only” in-person ticket sales may be available at the door.

The event will be at the Taproom of Croaker's Brewing Company, 74 North Sharpsville Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146 on Sunday, February 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for a special opening of our Gift Shop at the Wallis Mansion History Center. While the house is still undergoing restoration and renovation work, we will have our Gift Shop open for shopping during the City of Sharon’s #LoveLocal event downtown. Our Gift Shop sells our publications, maps, Christmas ornaments, postcards, memberships, and more!

Please enter the westside entrance of the Wallis Mansion History Center to access the Gift Shop easily.

The Gift Shop at the Sharon Historical Society’s Wallis Mansion History Center, 290 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 will be open for this special event on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in partnership with Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, as we host exclusive guided history tours of the historic Frank H. Buhl Mansion. During these hour-long, guided tours of the interior, exterior, and wonderful Christmas decorations, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Special thanks to Laura Ackley, Donna Winner, and Karen Winner Sed for their extreme generosity and support of the Sharon Historical Society. We welcome you to enjoy the fairytale...

These hour-long tours, which begin at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm, are provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Laura Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family.

These exclusive guided history tours require tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person. In-person ticket sales are NOT available.

The event will begin in the Carriage House at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, 422 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Tuesday, January 2, 2024 at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in partnership with Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, as we host exclusive guided history tours of the historic Frank H. Buhl Mansion. During these hour-long, guided tours of the interior, exterior, and wonderful Christmas decorations, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Special thanks to Laura Ackley, Donna Winner, and Karen Winner Sed for their extreme generosity and support of the Sharon Historical Society. We welcome you to enjoy the fairytale...

These hour-long tours, which begin at 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, and 2:00 pm, are provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Laura Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family.

These exclusive guided history tours require tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person. In-person ticket sales are NOT available.

The event will begin in the Carriage House at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, 422 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Monday, January 1, 2024 at 1 pm and 3 pm.

SOLD OUT — Join the Sharon Historical Society, in partnership with Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, as we host exclusive guided history tours of the historic Frank H. Buhl Mansion. During these hour-long, guided tours of the interior, exterior, and wonderful Christmas decorations, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Special thanks to Laura Ackley, Donna Winner, and Karen Winner Sed for their extreme generosity and support of the Sharon Historical Society. We welcome you to enjoy the fairytale...

These hour-long tours, which begin at 1:00 pm, are provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Laura Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family.

These exclusive guided history tours require tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person. In-person ticket sales are NOT available.

The event will begin in the Carriage House at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, 422 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 1:00 pm.

SOLD OUT — Join the Sharon Historical Society, in partnership with Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, as we host exclusive guided history tours of the historic Frank H. Buhl Mansion. During these hour-long, guided tours of the interior, exterior, and wonderful Christmas decorations, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Special thanks to Laura Ackley, Donna Winner, and Karen Winner Sed for their extreme generosity and support of the Sharon Historical Society. We welcome you to enjoy the fairytale...

These hour-long tours, which begin at 1:00 pm, are provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Laura Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family.

These exclusive guided history tours require tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person. In-person ticket sales are NOT available.

The event will begin in the Carriage House at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, 422 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, December 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm.

SOLD OUT — Join the Sharon Historical Society, in partnership with Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, as we host exclusive guided history tours of the historic Frank H. Buhl Mansion. During these hour-long, guided tours of the interior, exterior, and wonderful Christmas decorations, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Special thanks to Laura Ackley, Donna Winner, and Karen Winner Sed for their extreme generosity and support of the Sharon Historical Society. We welcome you to enjoy the fairytale...

These hour-long tours, which begin at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, are provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Laura Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family.

These exclusive guided history tours require tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person. In-person ticket sales are NOT available.

The event will begin in the Carriage House at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, 422 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 5:00 pm AND 7:00 pm.

SOLD OUT — Join the Sharon Historical Society, in partnership with Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, as we host exclusive guided history tours of the historic Frank H. Buhl Mansion. During these hour-long, guided tours of the interior, exterior, and wonderful Christmas decorations, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Special thanks to Laura Ackley, Donna Winner, and Karen Winner Sed for their extreme generosity and support of the Sharon Historical Society. We welcome you to enjoy the fairytale...

These hour-long tours, which begin at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, are provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Laura Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family.

These exclusive guided history tours require tickets to be purchased in advance on our website HERE which are $20 per person. In-person ticket sales are NOT available.

The event will begin in the Carriage House at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, 422 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 5:00 pm AND 7:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Annual Meeting with a special lecture, Buggies, Blue Doors, and Donuts: Amish Customs with Dr. Park. In this lecture, you’ll discover the fascinating world of the Old Order Amish community and gain unique insights into their way of life. Get into the holiday spirit with light refreshments (Amish donuts) and holiday gift shopping for the dozens of publications offered by the Society, before or after the presentation.

This hour-long program is provided by Dr. Kristin Park, an esteemed Sociology professor at Westminster College. Dr. Park, who graduated with a Bachelor’s in Sociology and Anthropology from Colgate University, has also earned a Master’s and PhD in Sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She has a certificate in Latin American Studies. Dr. Park has taught Sociology, Criminal Justice Studies, and International Studies at Westminster College since 1993.

As a respected member of the board of the Amish and Plain Anabaptist Studies Association, Dr. Kristin Park brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. Her deep understanding of Amish culture and her close interactions with the community make her an ideal guide to navigate this “close to home” topic.

During the presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to delve into the traditions, values, and customs of the Old Order Amish community. Dr. Park will share her personal experiences, anecdotes, and research findings, shedding light on the unique aspects of Amish life. From the distinctive buggies that grace their roads to the symbolic blue doors adorning their homes, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the Amish way of living.

Furthermore, this exclusive event offers attendees the chance to savor delicious Amish donuts, lovingly prepared according to traditional recipes. As you indulge in these delectable treats, you can immerse yourself in the ambiance of Amish culture and forge connections with fellow enthusiasts. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.

The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for a unique, behind-the-scenes, sneak-peek tour of our newly acquired home, the historic Wallis mansion. This will be an “explore at your own pace” event where attendees can enjoy the history of this grand old home and its promising future as the Society’s Wallis Mansion History Center. Truly a photographer’s dream, this open house event will be a sneak-peek opportunity for the community to see our progress on its restoration and rebirth.

A special souvenir handout with a brief history of the house and its future will be provided to participants. The Sharon Historical Society’s NEW gift shop will be open during the open house event with memberships, publications, Christmas ornaments, and more for purchase.

The self-guided tour may involve walking on a steep grade and/or rolling, uneven terrain. Be aware that participants will be on their feet for the entire event. Please wear appropriate shoes and attire for the weather. This event requires a $10 admission fee at the door which will go directly to the restoration and renovations of this beautiful, old home. Additional donations are much appreciated.

Please enter the rear kitchen entrance of the Wallis mansion, at 290 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Small Business Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 1:00 pm and will run until 4:00 pm.

Parking can be found in the lot at the Wallis mansion, off of Grace Place, at the Harold W. Stevenson Funeral Home, street-parking along Pine Street, at Covenant Presbyterian Church, and at the Buhl Club.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for a unique, behind-the-scenes walking tour of several historic mansions on the West Hill. This will be an “explore at your own pace” event where attendees can enjoy the history of these grand old homes and their promising futures. Truly a photographer’s dream, this Open House event will be a rare opportunity for the community to wander the properties.

Stops will include the Carley mansion (333 West State Street), the Rose mansion (371 West State Street), the DeForeest house (395 West State Street), the Stevenson mansion (109 North Irvine Avenue), the Perkins estate (300 West State Street), and more. A special souvenir handout detailing the tour stops and other interesting facts about the West Hill will be provided to participants. The Sharon Historical Society will also have memberships and additional merchandise available for purchase.

The self-guided tour will involve walking on a steep grade and/or rolling, uneven terrain. Be aware that participants will be on their feet for the entire event. Please wear appropriate shoes and attire for the weather. These tours require a $10 donation at the door. No reservations or tickets are required, however, we are offering pre-sale tickets to help with crowd control. You can purchase them HERE. Additional donations are much appreciated.

Event registration will be at the Perkins estate, inside the main hall of the Perkins mansion, at 300 West State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 1:00 pm and will run until 4:00 pm.

Parking can be found in the lots at the Perkins estate, in the lot at First Baptist, St. John's Episcopal, and the former Sacred Heart churches, and on-street parking along the south side of West State Street.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Downtown Sharon History Walks during WaterFire Sharon. We will focus on part of North Sharon, an area not covered before! Stops to include Gamble School (now Salvation Army), Oakwood Cemetery, St. John's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, neighborhood bars and stores, and Sharon's Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Transformer Division plant.

We will have some special behind-the-scenes opportunities including an interior tour of the former Westinghouse plant.

The History Walks will be approximately 1.5 hours over a 1.5-mile route of mixed terrain, often uneven. Rare photographs and interesting stories will be printed in our collectible booklet!

Walks will begin at 12:00 pm/Noon, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 16, 2023 during WaterFire Sharon. These are FREE and OPEN TO ALL!! Donations are appreciated!! The meeting location for the start of the History Walks will be in the parking lot of St. John’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 389 Clark Street, Sharon, PA 16146.

Parking can be found at the church lot and across the street from the former Westinghouse plant on Sharpsville Avenue (the Walks will end here).

Due to the crowd expected for Westinghouse, please be aware we have the SAME tour at Noon, 2 pm, and 4pm. The Noon History Walk is usually the largest and more crowded; please consider coming to a later Walk at 2 pm or 4 pm, if possible.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in collaboration with the Hermitage Historical Society, as we celebrate the release of our newest book, “Black Gold: Boomtowns, Prominent Men, and Grand Farmhouses of Hickory Township,” with a special lecture. In this lecture, we’ll explore the city of Hermitage’s past with this in-depth look at the “Sharon Block Coal” industry, the men responsible for its success, and the grand farmhouses and log cabins that once dotted the landscape during this transformational era. This event will celebrate the release of our newest book which is a full-color book with over 200 pages of in-depth research paired with historic and current photography.

Once the setting of bustling coal fields, Hickory Township – now the city of Hermitage, Pennsylvania – benefitted from “black gold” hidden beneath the surface of many of the area's farmlands. These rich deposits of “Sharon Block Coal,” with the help of the Erie Extension Canal, birthed a new industry for Mercer County. Like oil, coal had the power to make kings out of paupers; farmers were transformed into wealthy coal mine operators. With this newly gained wealth and power, the area's prominent residents from the 1830s through the 1920s built homes in a variety of popular or peculiar architectural styles of the era. Charles Koonce, General James Pierce, J. W. Ormsby, and others built grand homes to showcase their wealth. As coal mines began to “dry up” and many farmers went to work in the iron and steel mills in nearby Sharpsville, Sharon, and Farrell (originally South Sharon), what was Hickory Township’s population, began to decline. Boomtowns like Keel Ridge and Neshannock faded into distant memories. It wasn’t until the 1930s that the population, once again, grew when many of the “city folks” yearned for fresh air away from the fumes and noise of the industrialized cities of Sharpsville, Sharon, and Farrell. Suburban developments sprung up leading to commercialization. Into the 1960s, suburban shopping malls became the trend, and farmland areas, like Hermitage, prospered. Many of the grand homes of the Civil War era survive only in memory as they were demolished for development.

This lecture is provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society. Galaska has been on the Board of Directors since 2014 when he joined at the age of 15. He has dedicated the last several years to researching the histories of hundreds of residences throughout the city of Sharon and the surrounding region of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. He became well-known for his social media postings featuring the histories of local homes during and after the pandemic. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required. The Apollo Maennerchor Club will have the downstairs bar open. Bring cash for the bar.

The event will be at the Apollo Maennerchor German Social Club, Second Floor Festhalle, 391 South Dock Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Wednesday, August 30, 2023 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Downtown Sharon History Walks during WaterFire Sharon. We will focus on part of North Sharon, an area not covered before! Stops to include the Sharon Country Club, Dum Dum Golf, Buhl Farm Park, Thornton School, Thornton-Hall Bowling Alley, North Sharon Firehall, Sharon Little League field, several homes and the former trolley park, Deweyville.

The History Walks will be approximately 1.5 hours over a 1.6-mile route of mixed terrain, often uneven. Rare photographs and interesting stories will be printed in our collectible booklet!

Walks will begin at 12:00 pm/Noon, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm on Saturday, July 22nd, 2023 during WaterFire Sharon. These are FREE and OPEN TO ALL!! Donations are appreciated!! The History Walks will begin in the parking lot of Thornton Hall Bowling Lanes at 1208 Hall Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146. Parking can be found at Thornton Hall Bowling Lanes. Street parking may be available but be conscientious of driveways, street corners, fire hydrants, etc.

Join the Sharon Historical Society, in conjunction with the Oakwood Cemetery Association, for our Oakwood Cemetery Tours: The Stories Within. The guided tours will include an orientation at the Veteran's Bandstand followed by stops at nine points of interest throughout the Cemetery. Escorts will lead attendees in small groups to these preplanned stops. A historic interpreter will then provide biographical information about the person(s) interred at each location.

There will be two identical tour sessions, one starting at 10:00 am and one starting at 2:00 pm. It is suggested to arrive 30 minutes early to allow for parking, registration, and walking to the orientation area. No vehicle traffic will be allowed inside the Cemetery, other than directed parking in assigned areas.

Stops will include such points of interest as the Buhl Chapel and mausoleum, Billy Whitla “The Kidnapped Boy”, avid historian, world-traveler and writer Sarah Graham Morrison, relocated West Hill graves, the famous Gypsy Queen, family mausoleums, a man murdered by his wife in 1907 for insurance money, veterans, and an infamous extortionist, criminal, and attempted Alcatraz escapee. A special souvenir booklet detailing the tour stops and other interesting facts about Oakwood Cemetery will be provided to participants. The Sharon Historical Society will also have a tent where memberships and additional merchandise can be purchased.

The tour will involve approximately 1.5 miles of walking on rolling, uneven terrain. The estimated length of the walk is nearly 2.5 hours. Rest stops are limited. Be aware that participants will be on their feet for the entire event. Please wear appropriate shoes and attire for the weather. These tours are $5 PER ATTENDEE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No advanced reservations needed. Please bring $5 cash or check.

The event will be at Oakwood Cemetery, 600 North Oakland Ave. Sharon, PA 16146 on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.

Volunteers are still needed to help at this event. If you are interested in working one or both tour sessions, please contact the Society through Facebook Messenger or via email at: john@zavinski.com

Join the Sharon Historical Society for a unique, behind-the-scenes walking tour of several historic mansions on the West Hill. This will be an “explore at your own pace” event where attendees can enjoy the history of these grand old homes and their promising futures. Truly a photographer’s dream, this Open House event will be a rare opportunity for the community to wander the properties.

Stops will include the Carley mansion (333 West State Street), the Rose mansion (371 West State Street), the DeForeest house (395 West State Street), the Stevenson mansion (109 North Irvine Avenue), the Perkins estate (300 West State Street), and more. A special souvenir handout detailing the tour stops and other interesting facts about the West Hill will be provided to participants. The Sharon Historical Society will also have memberships and additional merchandise available for purchase.

The self-guided tour will involve walking on a steep grade and/or rolling, uneven terrain. Be aware that participants will be on their feet for the entire event. Please wear appropriate shoes and attire for the weather. These tours require a $10 donation at the door. No reservations or tickets are required. Additional donations are much appreciated.

Event registration will be at the Perkins estate, inside the main hall of the Perkins mansion, at 300 West State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at 6:00 pm and will run until 8:00 pm.

Parking can be found in the lots at the Perkins estate, in the lot at First Baptist, St. John's Episcopal, and the former Sacred Heart churches, and on-street parking along the south side of West State Street.

Join the Sharon Historical Society as we celebrate the release of our newest book reprint, “The Kidnaping of Billy Whitla”, with a special lecture. In this lecture, we’ll explore the national sensation of the 1909 kidnapping of William “Billy” Whitla. This event will celebrate the release of our newest book, a historical reprint of “The Kidnaping of Billy Whitla” by Hamilton Pearce.

“The Kidnaping of Billy Whitla” is the “full and authentic account of the abduction, the ransoming and the return of Billy Whitla, and the sensational capture of the kidnapers.” The book is full of details and photographs of locations, homes, and key figures in this thrilling criminal case.

Verily, truth is stranger than fiction. Never did the imagination of genius conceive a fantastic plot more compelling, more replete in stirring incident, more swift in its unfolding, more happy in its ending, than the true story of the abduction, the ransoming and the return of the little Sharon boy. And when to the completed adventures of Billy was added the remarkable capture of his abductors, the perfect drama was made. No more intricate or absorbing tale ever came from the pen of a Dickens, a Balzac or a de Maupassant. Love, hatred, greed, fear, revenge, despair - the elemental human passions - all are here. And there is romance and tragedy, adventure and mystery in the story. Best of all, right triumphs and evil is brought to conclusion, which is as it should be, and without which qualities no story or drama, even of the imagination, can be truly termed great.

— Excerpt from “The Kidnaping of Billy Whitla”

This lecture is provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society. Galaska has dedicated the last several years to researching the history and lore of the kidnapping of Billy Whitla and how this affected his family, including Frank H. and Julia F. Buhl. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.

The event will be at the Armory for the Arts, 49 South Sharpsville Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society as we celebrate the release of our newest book, “Built by Steel: Frank and Julia Buhl's Mansion and Legacy”, with a special lecture. In this lecture, we’ll explore the rich history of the Frank H. Buhl mansion, built in 1891 as a wedding gift from industrialist and philanthropist Frank Buhl to his wife Julia. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Built by Steel” is a comprehensive history of the Buhl family and their grand mansion on Sharon’s East Hill paired with historic and current photography. Get a glimpse into the lives of Buhl Mansion’s current owner, Donna C. Winner, and her late husband James E. Winner Jr. We welcome you to sit back and enjoy the fairytale...

This hour-long program is provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society, and Laura Ackley, General Manager of Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is the Guesthouse Supervisor and "resident historian" at Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. Ackley is from Beaver Falls, but has called the Shenango Valley home for over 20 years. A graduate from Geneva College where she earned her Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Ackley has served on numerous nonprofit boards, including those in the tourism, hospitality, cultural, economic and community development sectors. She worked in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Pittsburgh before returning to Sharon as the General Manager and Director of Marketing for Buhl Mansion Guesthouse & Spa, Tara - A Country Inn, and Donna's Diner in 2003. Ackley has dedicated the last two decades to researching the history of the Buhl family. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.

The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Annual Meeting with a special lecture, Pro Tips for Saving Your Family Treasures at Home. In this lecture, you’ll learn how to store items like books, papers, photographs, newspapers, and scrapbooks safely at home. We will briefly discuss the pros and cons of digitization but focus on preventing damage to the original items that mean so much to you and your family’s history. Get into the holiday spirit with light refreshments and holiday gift shopping for the dozens of publications offered by the Society, before or after the presentation.

This hour-long program is provided by Cassie Nespor, Curator of the University Archives and Melnick Medical Museum at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio. Nespor is a Sharon native, graduating from Sharon High School in 2000. She went on to study at Dickinson College and the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated with a Bachelor’s in History and a Master’s in Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) with a focus in Archival Studies. Prior to working for YSU, Nespor worked for the Senator John Heinz History Center (a Smithsonian Institution affiliate) and Chatham University, both of Pittsburgh. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.

The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society as we celebrate the release of our newest book, Grand Homes of the Gilded Age, with a special lecture. In this lecture, we’ll explore a transformational era in Sharon’s past with a virtual stroll up and down the East and West Hills of the city, showcasing the grand homes, past and present, from the Gilded Age period (1850-1915). This event will celebrate the release of our newest book which is a full-color coffee table-style book with nearly 180 pages of in-depth research paired with historic and current photography.

This lecture is provided by Taylor Galaska, President of the Board of Directors of the Sharon Historical Society. Galaska has been on the Board of Directors since 2014 when he joined at the age of 15. He has dedicated the last several years to researching the histories of hundreds of residences throughout the city of Sharon and the surrounding region of Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. He became well-known for his social media postings featuring the histories of local homes during and after the pandemic. Galaska is a Sharon native, graduating from Kennedy Catholic High School in 2017. He went on to study at Westminster College where he earned a Bachelor’s in Marketing and Professional Sales, though his true passion is architectural history and historic preservation. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. No reservations or tickets are required.

The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 6:00 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Downtown Sharon History Walks during WaterFire Sharon. We will focus on the Prospect Heights neighborhood, an area not covered before! Stops to include the Oakland Avenue Viaduct, Prospect Heights School, the Prindle Homestead, various businesses and sacred spaces, and other grand homes of Sharon’s business leaders and industrialists.

Rare photographs and interesting stories will be printed in our collectible booklet! Walks will begin at 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 24th, 2022 during WaterFire Sharon. These are FREE and OPEN TO ALL!! Donations are appreciated!! The meeting location will be the north side of C. M. Musser Elementary School at 500 Cedar Avenue, Sharon, PA 16146 in the parking lot area near the corner of Leslie and Spruce.

The Walk is approximately 1.2 miles and at times on grassy and/or uneven terrain. Please wear walking shoes and bring water.

Parking can be found at several lots and streets nearby at C. M. Musser Elementary School. If parking on the streets, please be conscientious of driveways, street corners, fire hydrants, and more. There are two lots directly adjacent to C. M. Musser Elementary School, both accessed from Leslie. Street parking at the school is found on Spruce. There are additional parking lots at Saint Stanislaus Kostka-Holy Trinity Church at 370 Spruce Avenue. From there, please walk to Musser to begin the History Walks. The Walks will end at East Side Church Baptist - Disciples of Christ at 201 Spruce Avenue.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Downtown Sharon History Walks during WaterFire Sharon. We will focus on the last section of the Upper East Hill, an area not covered before! Stops to include Case Avenue Elementary School, Sharon High School and Stadium, the Carley Mansion and bird sanctuary, coal mines, and bygone buildings and mansions of Sharon’s business leaders and industrialists.

Rare photographs and interesting stories will be printed in our collectible booklet! Walks will begin at 12:00 pm/Noon, 2:00 pm, and 4:00 pm on Saturday, July 23rd, 2022 during WaterFire Sharon. These are FREE and OPEN TO ALL!! Donations are appreciated!! The meeting location will be the front lawn of Sharon Senior High School at 1129 East State Street, Sharon, PA 16146 under the large shade trees.

The Walk is approximately 1.2 miles and at times on grassy and/or uneven terrain. Please wear walking shoes and bring water.

Parking can be found at several lots nearby on the Sharon City School District property. There are two lots directly behind/adjacent to Case Avenue Elementary School, the Sharon High School Band parking lot (corner of Linden and North Myers; closest to end of the Walk), and the parking lot next to the Sharon High School Auditorium (enter from Forker Boulevard; closest to the start of the Walk). The front driveway loop of Case Avenue Elementary School has limited parking.

Join the Sharon Historical Society as we revisit a near-annual event, floods. In this expanded version of a 2013 lecture, Society Director John Zavinski will discuss Sharon’s most disastrous flood, the Great Flood of 1913, with photos of it and additional details of some of the major floods in subsequent decades, particularly the 1950s.

The hour-long program coincides with the release of the Society’s deluxe reprint of “The Official History of the Shenango Valley Flood,” which will be available for purchase at the event -- saving the cost of shipping -- along with our other Society publications and reprints. This lecture is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

The event will be at the Sharon Municipal Building, City Council Chambers, 155 West Connelly Blvd. Sharon, PA 16146 on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at 6:30 pm.

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Downtown Sharon History Walks during WaterFire Sharon. We will focus on the Upper East Hill, an area not covered before! Stops to include Saint Joseph Church and School, Jefferson Avenue School, the George Boyd Mansion and other grand homes and bygone mansions of Sharon’s business leaders and industrialists.

Rare photographs and interesting stories will be printed in our collectible booklet! Walks will begin at 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm and 4:30 pm on Saturday, September 18th, 2021 during WaterFire Sharon. These are FREE and OPEN TO ALL!! Donations are appreciated!! Meet us at the corner of Jefferson Avenue and East State Street! Parking can be found nearby.

THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT

Join the Sharon Historical Society for our Oakwood Cemetery History Walks at Oakwood Cemetery at 600 North Oakland Avenue, Sharon, PA. We will focus on the Buhl Chapel/Frank and Julia Buhl, Billy Whitla “the kidnapped boy”, Family Mausoleums, The Gypsy Queen, and more! Rare photographs and interesting stories will be printed in our collectible booklet, for purchase before or after the History Walks! Walks will begin at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm on Saturday, July 24th, 2021. These are FREE and OPEN TO ALL! Donations are appreciated!

Tickets are REQUIRED for this event. To make reservations, please contact Taylor Galaska, President, at TaylorGalaska@gmail.com

We have a maximum of 30 people per walk. Replying “going” on Facebook is NOT a reservation.

When RSVPing, please include names of attendees, phone number and which History Walk time you wish to attend.